Walshe Secures Worlds Time on Final Morning of Racing in Dublin

After four days of thrilling racing, the penultimate session of the 2025 Irish Open Championships took place on Wednesday morning at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre, with Ellen Walshe continuing to impress.

Fresh off setting two Irish Senior Records in the 200m Freestyle on Tuesday, Walshe returned to the blocks for the final morning of heats. The Templeogue swimmer showed no sign of slowing up, clocking a time of 4:41.86 in the 400m Individual Medley. Walshe, who holds the Irish Senior Record and Championship Record in the event in 4:37.18, went well under the 4:43.06 ‘A’ Standard mark for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

In the Open 400m IM, Phelim Hanley of Blackrock will head into tonight’s final as the quickest qualifier in 4:31.72. Hanley will look to close out his impressive week on a high, having already secured consideration times for the European Aquatics Junior Championships in the 100m and 200m Butterfly.

Current Irish Senior Record (27.64) holder Danielle Hill is top seed for tonight’s 50m Backstroke Final after she clocked 28.50 in this morning’s heat swim. Fellow Olympian Shane Ryan will enter the Open category as fastest Irish man after he went 25.73.

Ryan will also have his sights set on the 50m Butterfly Irish Senior Record after he clocked 23.47 this morning, swimming just .03 outside of current record holder Max McCusker’s time of 23.44. Emma Coulter of Ards will be top seed (27.63) heading into the women’s category, with UCD’s Jena Macdougald the second fastest qualifier in 27.99.

In the Open 50m Breaststroke, Bangor man Adam Bradley will head to the blocks this evening as top seed following his time of 28.72 in the heats. Athlone’s Christian O’Brien will join him in the middle lanes after clocked 28.92.

Portmarnock’s Ava Jones secured the centre lane for tonight’s 50m Breaststroke Final, after she was quickest this morning in 32.41, ahead of National Centre Dublin swimmer Niamh Coyne (32.47).

There was an exciting conclusion to this morning’s session as Coolmine swimmer Anna Joyce hit the consideration time for the European Youth Olympic Festival during a time trial in the 100m Breaststroke.

A bumper schedule of finals awaits the NAC crowd which will include sixteen opportunities for Irish swimmers to claim championship gold. This evening will see the return of Daniel Wiffen in the 1500m Freestyle Final, the top seed (16:15.99) will look to secure his third gold of the week. The final session of the championships will also include finals in the Open and Female 50m Backstroke, 400m IM, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly, 200m Breaststroke, Female 50m Freestyle, Female 800m Freestyle, Open 100m Freestyle, Female 200m Freestyle and Open 200m Butterfly.

This evening’s session will get underway at the earlier time of 4pm.

Press releases will be issued daily.

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International Swimming Events Summer 2025

2025 World Aquatics Championships in Kallang, Singapore, 27th July – 3rd August

Consideration Process Achieved: Ellen Walshe (100m, 200m Butterfly, 200m, 400m IM), Danielle Hill (100m Backstroke), John Shortt (100m Backstroke), Tom Fannon (50m Freestyle), Daniel Wiffen (800m, 1500m Freestyle), Mona McSharry (100m, 200m Breaststroke), Ellie McCartney (200m Breaststroke)

2025 Para Swimming Championships in Kallang, Singapore, 21st – 27th September

Qualification Time Achieved: Róisín NíRiain, Barry McClements, Dearbhaile Brady, Deaten Registe, Síomha Brady

2025 World University Games in Berlin, Germany, 17th – 23rd July

Consideration Time Achieved: Ellie McCartney (100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke, 200m IM), Evan Bailey (100m, 200m Freestyle), Lottie Cullen (100m Backstroke), Eoin Corby (200m Breaststroke)

2025 European Aquatics U23 Championships in Samorin, Slovakia, 26th – 28th June

Consideration Time Achieved: Lottie Cullen (100m Backstroke, 200m Backstroke), Ellie McCartney (100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke, 200m IM), Cormac Rynn (200m, 400m Freestyle), Evan Bailey (100, 200m Freestyle), Maria Godden (100m Backstroke), Jack Cassin (200m Freestyle, 100m, 200m Butterfly), Oisin Tebite (50m Freestyle), Eoin Corby (100m, 200m Breaststroke), Brandon Biss (200m Backstroke)

2025 European Junior Aquatics Championships in Samorin, Slovakia, 1st – 6th July

Consideration Time Achieved: John Shortt (100m Backstroke, 200m Backstroke), Grace Davison (50m, 100m Freestyle,200m IM), Clare Custer (1500m Freestyle), Adam Bradley (100m Breaststroke), Matthew Hamilton (50m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly), Niamh Connery (100m Breaststroke), Thomas Bugler (100m Butterfly), Phelim Hanley (100m Butterfly), Tadhg O’Brien (400m Freestyle), Lucy O’Brien (100m Butterfly), Ava Jones (100m Breaststroke)

2025 European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje, Macedonia, 20th – 26th July

Consideration Time Achieved: Shea Mathers (100m Butterfly), Julia Dziedzic (200m Backstroke, 400m Freestyle), Anna Joyce (100m Breaststroke)

2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania, 19th – 24th August
Qualification for this event will take place at the European Junior Championships in July.

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